A blessed 2020 to all!

It's the first day of a brand new year! What did everyone have for media noche? Lechon was the centerpiece of our spread and maybe, the same was on your tables. We will all be having lechon paksiw for days, I guess. Hahaha! 
Happy New Year, my dear friends and readers! 
I pray that we will all have a blessed, fruitful year ahead! 

Sad goodbyes and a flicker of hope

The year 2018 had just ended, but not without bringing with it some of the things close to my foodie heart. As I bid goodbye to the year that was, so did I say "adieu" to two of my favorite restaurants -- Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City and Amor Bakery in Manila (all of the latter's branches closed down as well). These two were on top of the places I loved to lounge in to have coffee and do some writing. 

Kamuning Bakery -- which had existed for seven decades -- was, however, razed by fire in February 2018. On the other hand, Amor Bakery announced in its Facebook page just last week as 2018 was drawing to a close, that it would cease operation effective Jan. 1, 2019. Just like that. No explanation. For loyal patrons like me, that was one sad news. I felt much like a woman dumped without reason by the love of her life. The beauty and comfort of the flagship España Blvd. store and my favorite food 
and drinks would now be nothing but a sweet memory.

Personal memories of Amor Bakery in Espana, Manila

Thanks to my optimistic self, however, I have the belief there's something good awaiting foodies like me who have grown to love Amor Bakery. What exactly it is, I still don't know. Maybe, it's opening again under new management? 
So, till we meet again, Amor! 

My Kamuning Bakery and Cafe memoirs

As for Kamuning Bakery, I'm sure it wont be long before it opens its doors again to its loyal customers, though the nostalgic feels of the old, original store 
won't be coming back by any luck. 

I hope, too, for more great foodie discoveries this year. I would be in wait for 
a place I could love as much as I did Amor and Kamuning Bakery. 

Well, hello, 2019!

New beginnings

It's a brand new year -- a time to start life anew. Let's leave 2017 behind, with all the mistakes,  failures and heartaches. We might have been troubled, wounded and discouraged, but God can make all things new! Let us forgive those who caused us pain, even if they didn't ask for it, and let God heal the scars. Let us surrender all to Him and trust Him to clean our slate and give us a new lease in life. Let us remember to pray at the start of each day, thank Him for the life that He gives us and ask for His wisdom and guidance in every thing that we are to do. When we retire at the end of the day, let us thank Him, too for all His provisions and protection for our family. Let us praise the Lord for He is always good, loving and merciful! Thank Him for this new year, for giving us, 
His children, new breath, new beginnings, new life. 
God bless us all.

New dawning

In just over two hours as I write this, year 2015 will be part of history. The present chapter of our lives will be closed for good, sealing with it both the joy and pains that would soon become mere memories. How are you ending 2015? With gladness and hope or with sadness or regret? I do hope you will bid 2015 goodbye with hope however heavy your heart feels. Every new year, and in fact, in every new day, God gives us an opportunity to do better than yesterday, 

if we allow Him to lead us into the right way - His way. 

Remember that God loves you and wants you to experience His immense and faithful love in the most profound way. Begin the coming year by seeking Him and experience His transforming power in your life. See for yourself how the Lord can bring you 

promotion, prosperity, peace and happiness.

Have a blessed New Year! 

Sunrise in Tambobong Beach, Dasol, Pangasinan, Dec. 31, 2015

New beginnings

My father passed away on the first day of this new year, 2015. He was cremated on the 4th. It's a sad way to welcome the New Year, I know, but I'm comforted by the fact that my earthly father is now the company of the Lord. Five days before his passing, one of the pastors in our church, the Cathedral of Praise, visited my dad in the hospital and led him in a prayer of repentance and accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. This brought me great relief and assurance! 

God is good indeed! 

As we're now into a brand new year, let us renew our minds and hearts as well. Was the past not so good in our lives in terms of relationships, finances, career? The Lord says let us not dwell on it for He is creating something new! We have hope in our great God and let us trust in Him to bring us into the next level, in a situation far better than the present. The Lord loves us so much that He wants us to live a live of prosperity and happiness through His guidance. 

God bless you.

                                                       (Photo credit: cbnasia.org)